"Lucy is here," Rudy stated.
Angelica went inside Rudy's body as soon as the front door opened, and Lucy walked in.
"I am home~" she said while taking off her shoes.
Lucy had arrived at the right time and became Rudy's savior.
"You came later than I expected." Rebecca got up and greeted Lucy.
"Yeah…" Lucy sighed heavily and said, "I would have arrived here an hour ago, but I missed the bus, and the next bus was canceled. I waited for half an hour, and another bus came. It was packed as the bus before that was canceled, and all the passengers got into the next one.
I barely got inside the bus and somehow found a corner to stand on. I was relieved, thinking at least I got on the bus and I would reach home. But I was wrong. After a few minutes, the bus had some trouble. I don't know what it was; some said it was an engine, and some said the tire was punctured.
Ultimately, that bus stopped, and everyone stood outside, waiting for the next bus to arrive. But it was getting too late, and I didn't want to stand and wait there for the sun to set. So… I walked the rest of the way."
"What?!" Rebecca and Rudy exclaimed at the same time.
"Why would you do that?" Rudy asked. "You could have called me. I would have come to pick you up."
"Pick me up…? How, though? We don't have vehicles at home."
"I would have asked a friend." He placed his hands on Lucy's shoulders and looked into her eyes before saying, "Listen, the next time you miss your bus, just ring me, okay? You are my sister, and it's the duty of a brother to look out for his sister."
"He is right. We are not saying you can't travel alone or stay out till late at night. You can do whatever you want. But if you are in trouble, remember that a family is waiting for you at home, who would do anything to help you," Rebecca added with a smile.
Lucy's eyes got teary after hearing that, and she started sniffing to hold her tears from falling from her eyes.
"Why are you crying?" Rebecca asked with a concerned look on her face.
Lucy shook her head and quietly said, "It's just…"
She chuckled softly and smiled, "You two care for me more than my real brother and mother ever did. I am just happy that I am a part of your family."
A brief pause later, she said, "Okay, I take it back. My mother does care for me in her own way, but it's been a while since I talked to her."
Rebecca hugged Lucy and said, "I know you don't think of me as your mother, and you don't have to. You can think of me as your big sister or even a friend if you want to. But know that I care about you."
"Yeah, same." Rudy nodded and continued, "I know you don't think of me as your brother, and you don't have to. You can think of me as your big brother or even a friend if you want to. But know that I care about you because you make tasty food."
Rebecca and Lucy shot a glare at Rudy, to which he playfully shrugged it off with a grin on his face.
Lucy hugged Rudy tightly and said, "I am glad you are only my step-brother."
"..." Rebecca stared at Lucy for a few seconds and turned around after saying, "Lucy, go wash your hands. The dinner is ready to serve. You can take a bath later."
Lucy stared into Rudy's eyes while biting her lower lip from the side as though she meant something by it.
"Yes. I feel hungry."
After that, she rushed to the kitchen to wash her hands and help Rebecca put the plates on the table.
"..."
Rudy chuckled awkwardly and muttered, "I will pretend I didn't hear her thoughts."
Rudy washed his hands and sat at the table with Lucy and Rebecca.
They talked about their daily lives while eating but mainly focused on eating.
"I can't beat your cooking," Lucy commented. "Even when I use the same recipe as you and follow every minute detail, yours tastes better. Why?"
"She uses the power of love," he chuckled while looking at Rebecca.
"I also love you. And… Rebecca too. Maybe my love is not as strong as hers."
"He is joking. Please don't take everything he says seriously. You can never know when he is being serious and when he is joking," Rebecca sighed.
After eating, Rudy washed the dishes while Rebecca prepared to leave for her night shift. And Lucy went to take a bath.
"Rudy." Rebecca came out of her room and called out to Rudy. "Is there anything you want me to buy from the convenience store? We are getting restocked today, so if you want something, I can make a list."
"Hmm~" Rudy hummed in wonder and said, "Yes, I do, actually."
"Okay, wait." Rebecca opened the 'notes' app on her phone and said, "Ready. Tell me whatever you need."
"Chips packets, big ones, both spicy and salted. A few kilos of chocolates, mixed flavors. Regular monthly ration for the house. Oh yeah, get some of Lucy's favorite snacks. And… one hundred kisses from Rebecca daily."
"I knew you would slip in something like that. And don't you think one hundred is a little too much for a day?"
"When we kissed earlier, I am sure that alone surpassed that number."
"Yeah, but that was only a one-time thing. We are not going to kiss for an hour-long daily, right?" she asked while shrugging her head.
Rudy didn't say anything and simply smirked in response.
"Don't you dare pull that stunt daily!" Rebecca shouted.
"Why don't you speak louder so even our neighbors can hear you?" Rudy remarked.
Rebecca furrowed her brows and stormed at Rudy into the kitchen. She pulled him close and kissed him on the lips. Their lips didn't part, and they continued playing with their tongues.
After the kiss, she let him go and said, "We will only kiss when I want to."
Rudy licked his lips and said, "Then I will make sure you are desperate for one all the time."
